Coming up clutch for the Kites 💪 Aryna Sabalenka comes back from 5-2 down to win the women's singles against Elena Rybakina 7-6(2). She levels the match at 30 games a piece, and a Super Shootout tiebreak will decide the winning team 🍿 #WorldTennisLeague #WTL
Aryna Sabalenka comes up clutch for Team Kites at World Tennis League, seals Super Shootout Tiebreak over Elena Rybakina
OtherFriday, 22 December 2023 at 16:27
Aryna Sabalenka anchored Team Kites to the top of the table in the World Tennis League on the opening day and it is the World Number Two again who has provided the antidote, this time in downing The Falcons with Elena Rybakina wondering what could've been after losing a winning position against the World Number Two.
It was a 33-30 win for Team Kites as Sabalenka and co continued from their opening win against Team Eagles who will face Team Hawks shortly in the second battle of the day. Team Kites now move onto 2-0 albeit Team Falcons are now in second due to points accrued over victories as is the quirk of World Tennis League action.
Falcons dominate doubles but come unstuck in singles action
In the first three matches, doubles were the name of the game and Team Falcons got an early lead dominating proceedings. In Match One, Sorana Cirstea and Elena Rybakina (Falcons) defeated Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka (Kites) narrowly 7-6 (2) and it was the exact same mirroring scoreline for Taylor Fritz and Sumit Nagal (Falcons) in the Men's Doubles that followed as they took down Grigor Dimitrov and Lloyd Harris (Kites).
Harris interestingly was a late replacement as Stefanos Tsitsipas who last month could barely get out of bed due to injury troubles seemingly couldn't play and was instead sat on the bench as the South African was the late stand-in. This was also the case for the mixed doubles as Tsitsidosa was only a one day thing on the court as Harris teamed with Badosa for Kites in a losing effort to Falcons duo Sorana Cirstea and Taylor Fritz.
But this is where it came unstuck for Falcons as they lost technically three singles matches in a row including the super shootout tie-break in order to spurn the tie. Fritz (Falcons) who lost easily yesterday to Casper Ruud in his singles tie was eased past by Dimitrov 6-3.
Rybakina spurns big opportunity as Sabalenka takes full advantage
Before the big tie as Aryna Sabalenka saw off Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka for Kites came back from 5-2 down as Rybakina lost 7-6 in the end to set up the tie-break. The World Number Two levelled the match at 30-30 and a super shootout was prepared to decide the winning team. After saying she was rubbish at dancing before the 50 Cent concert yesterday, she showed off her moves on court as she won the tie-break 10-6 to secure the win for her team. What could've been for Rybakina's Falcons and Sabalenka's Kites continue to move on.
Results - Kites def. Falcons 33-30
Sorana Cirstea/Elena Rybakina (Falcons) 7-6(2) Paula Badosa/Aryna Sabalenka (Kites)
Taylor Fritz/Sumit Nagal (Falcons) 7-6(2) Grigor Dimitrov/Lloyd Harris (Kites)
Sorana Cirstea/Taylor Fritz (Falcons) 7-5 Paula Badosa/Lloyd Harris (Kites)
Taylor Fritz (Falcons) 3-6 Grigor Dimitrov (Kites)
Elena Rybakina (Falcons) 6-7 (5) Aryna Sabalenka (Kites)
Elena Rybakina (Falcons) 0-1 (6-10) Aryna Sabalenka (Kites)
Super shootout winning bonus adds 0-2 to Kites scoreline meaning 30-33 win
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